The Low Countries Leaves X

the low countries will no longer use the social media channel X. The bold statements of CEO Elon Musk and the spread of disinformation go against our values and mission.

From breaking news and entertainment to sports and politics, get the full story with all the live commentary. That’s what X promises its followers in short messages of up to 280 characters.

When founded in 2006, Twitter was a gift for anyone wanting to quickly and cheaply broadcast their message to a large audience. Those who posted dubious opinions were usually held accountable with arguments. Because messages were easily shareable and could be rapidly spread worldwide, the platform was particularly popular among politicians, journalists, and other opinion makers. the low countries also benefited from these advantages.

Since Elon Musk took over the company behind Twitter in 2022 and renamed it X, the platform’s positive impact has disappeared, along with the iconic blue bird.

Musk bought Twitter, in his words, to protect freedom of speech and ‘save’ it from censorship. By now, we know what he means by free speech. Under Musk, X has become more than ever a megaphone for disinformation and even hate speech. He himself contributes to this with posts that often play fast and loose with the truth. By blending fact and fiction, he regularly spreads misinformation via his platform, sometimes unknowingly, but often deliberately, with global consequences.

Through X, the world’s richest man also tries to exert political influence. We saw this clearly during the recent U.S. presidential elections, where he spread conspiracy theories about migration and accused the Democrats of voter fraud. In November 2024, the Center for Countering Digital Hate identified at least eighty-seven posts by the tech billionaire about the elections as false or misleading. The disinformation garnered two billion views.

Outside the U.S., Elon Musk also interferes in politics, often with controversial statements. Late last year, he called the Australian government “fascists” over a bill requiring social media platforms to curb the spread of disinformation. In the UK and the EU, he increasingly supports far-right politicians: from the Alternative for Germany party (which he calls ‘the only salvation’ for Germany) to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Recently, Musk caused a stir by stating that diversity, equality, and inclusion in hiring are forms of antisemitism. And we haven’t even mentioned his ongoing “war on woke.”

Of course, strongly differing opinions should be possible in a democracy, even if expressed bluntly or provocatively. But if you deliberately send out questionable opinions, incite hatred against dissenters, and undermine democratic values to realize your own political and business ambitions, that crosses many lines.

We no longer want to be part of a platform where messages are spread that directly contradict our mission and values. the low countries believes in an inclusive and democratic society and want to connect people and engage them in constructive dialogue by spreading accurate and high-quality information. Therefore, you will no longer see our content on X.

Would you like to continue receiving insights about culture from Flanders and the Netherlands, detached from the day-to-day frenzy? You can still follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, and through our newsletter.